JMU preps for St. John's tourney

For JMU, the next five days are filled with opportunity and possibilities.

The Dukes (6-2) will play three games over this span, with two of them coming against resume-enhancing opponents. If successful, JMU can brand itself as not just a team good enough to make the NCAA Tournament, but one capable of making some noise once they get there. And trust us, perception is important when it comes to the NCAA selection committee.

It all starts Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when the Dukes take on Prairie View in the opening round of the sixth annual Chartwells Holiday Classic at St. John's. On Sunday, JMU will face the Big East-based host school at 2 p.m. Both games air on ESPN3.

And on Wednesday, it'll be the Dukes doing the hosting against Southeastern Conference power Vanderbilt.

Of course, the Dukes will be focused only on today's game. But the rest of us can take a peek at where all this might be headed. And for NCAA at-large and seeding purposes, JMU needs to pile up as many victories over major conference opponents as it can. That's why we were thrilled when we saw JMU's non-conference schedule was littered with power conference foes. Because beating these teams isn't just a good way to impress the selection committee. It's the only way.

We won't bore you with the numbers - you can e-mail us for them if you'd like - but we examined every non-power conference team that's received an NCAA at-large bid over the past five years. Simply put, you're not getting invited without at least one victory over a quality opponent from the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 or Pac-12. Now it's possible to post such a victory and still not get invited. But without one - at least one - you have no chance.

 Remember a couple of years ago, when JMU had a better record, better RPI, better everything than Middle Tennessee State, plus a win over the Blue Raiders, and MTSU still got an NCAA invite when the Dukes were relegated to the WNIT? Well, Middle Tennessee had a win over powerhouse Kentucky. JMU had no such comparable win. That's what the committee focused in on.

In short, the Dukes can pile up all the non-power conference victories they want. Heck, they can can even go undefeated in the CAA regular season, the way Florida Gulf Coast did last year in the Atlantic Sun. Based on recent history, it won't matter to the NCAA selection types.

You see, the unfortunate perception not just within the committee but among fans, media types and even coaches who hang the second-class "mid-major" label around their own necks is that even halfway-decent teams from the Pac-12, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC are inherently better than everyone else. So if you're part of that "everyone else," unless you can document success over one of more of the big money conference teams, you're not getting the benefit of the doubt - from virtually anyone.

Fortunately for the Dukes, with wins already over Virginia and UCLA, they've already started building their case (JMU has also beaten new ACC member Pittsburgh, although based on recent history that win might not meet the "quality" standard). Now neither the Cavaliers nor the Bruins has hit stride yet. But if both teams play to their capabilities, those wins should look a lot better come March.

Instead of banking on that, though, the Dukes have a chance to chop down some more heavyweights.
Now the Big East ain't what it used to be, but St. John's still looks like a Top-50 team, at least. Vanderbilt is a perennial force in the SEC. And on Jan. 2, the Dukes will close out non-conference play with the toughest assignment of them all, a trip to North Carolina.

For now, though, this stuff is for us to talk about - the Dukes need to be locked in on Saturday's date with Prairie View. Assuming they are, they don't figure to have too many problems. While Prairie View has won the last three SWAC Tournament titles, the Lady Panthers have stumbled to an 0-6 start this year under interim coach Dawn Brown (former head coach Toyelle Wilson resigned over the summer to become an assistant at Baylor).

So far this year the Lady Panthers have struggled offensively (the team has yet to have more than one player finish in double figures scoring in any game); defensively (teams shoot 46.3 percent against Prairie View, a figure that ranks 332rd in Division I); and in rebounding (the Lady Panthers average a minus-12 on the boards and will be facing a JMU team that's at plus-11.2).

Other than that, Prairie View should be OK. Look anything can happen after tipoff. But if the Dukes play anywhere near their normal level, the Lady Panthers are in deep doo-doo.

St. John's (5-2) poses a much greater challenge, particularly at home where the Red Storm is 4-0. The team also has a big-time baller in sophomore guard Aliyyah Handford, who is averaging 23.4 points per game (13th in Division I)  on eye-popping 58.5 percent shooting (from a 5-9 guard?).

But hey, games like these aren't supposed to be easy. Neither is getting the selection committee's attention. But the Dukes are off to a great start.

Let's see how many more heads they can turn.

Virginia's finest - Division I players from the Commonwealth

Former Lake Taylor star Feyonda Fitzgerald

After compiling this list of all the players from Virginia high schools currently playing Division I ball, we'll just say this - if the recent hoopster graduates from Princess Anne and Lake Taylor ever decide to square off in a pick-up game, just tell us when and where. We definitely wouldn't want to miss that.

If you know of anyone we've missed, pass it along to ladyswishing@hotmail.com

Princess Anne (7)

Jazmen Boone, 5-8 Jr. G, William and Mary (1-6)
   - Has started all seven games, is averaging 11.1 ppg and has scored a career-high 24 in each of her last two contests (UMass, La Salle).

Galaisha Goodhope, 5-5 Soph. G, Old Dominion (5-4)
   - The high-motor G.G. has started eight of nine games. Averaging 8.1 ppg and has a team-high 29 assists.

Bria Powell

Bria Powell, 5-9 Soph. G, Richmond (4-5)
   - has started all nine games and is averaging 4.4 ppg.

Elizabeth Williams, 6-3 Jr. F/C, Duke (10-0)
   - Two-time All-American averages 13.8 points and 6.0 rebounds while blocking a team-high 28 shots. By the way, her parents throw a mean party.

Samisha Powell, 5-8 Sr. G, Georgetown (6-3)
   - Has started all 9 games and is averaging 7.4 points and a team-best 4.3 assists.

Aisha Foy, 5-6 Soph. G, Radford (2-6)
   - Has started all eight games and is averaging 7.9 ppg. Scored a season-high 15 points Saturday at Liberty.

Amanda Andrades, 5-3 Jr. G, Fairleigh Dickinson (1-7)
   - Has started seven games and averages 7.6 points and a team-best 4.0 assists.

Lake Taylor (7)

Toia Giggetts, 6-0 Jr. F, JMU (6-2)
   - Reigning Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week is coming off a career-high 23-point performance at Pitt. Is averaging 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds and has started four of the Dukes' eight games.

Feyonda Fitzgerald, 5-7 Fr. G, Temple (4-2)
   - Two-time American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week winner started her first six games and leads the Owls in scoring at 14.8 ppg. Also averages 3.8 assists per game.

Linda Stepney, 5-7 Jr. G, West Virginia (7-1)
   - Has started all eight games and leads her team in assists (27). Also averages 4.8 ppg.

Crystal Leary, 6-2 Jr. F, West Virginia (7-1)
   - Has appeared in all eight games and ranks second among Mountaineers in rebounding (6.4 rpg). Also averages 5.4 ppg.

Tasia Majors, 5-6 Sr. G, Howard (3-6)
   - Has appeared in five games with one start but has logged just nine minutes this season.

Breshara Gordon, 5-6 Sr. G, Radford (2-6)
   - Has battled back from a second ACL injury in three years to start five of the Highlanders' eight games. Is averaging 7.4 points and has dished out a team-high 23 assists.

Jordan Mitchell-Harmel, 5-9 Fr. F, Grambling (2-5)
   - Has appeared in her team's first six games and averages 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per contest.

Potomac (6)

Kyana Jacobs, 5-8 Sr. G, George Mason (5-5)
   - Has started all 10 games and is averaging 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds.

Amber Porter, 6-3 Fr. F/C, Stetson (5-4)
   - Reigning Atlantic Sun Newcomer of the Week started eight of nine games and is averaging 12.7 points and 7.4 rebounds and ranks second in the A-Sun with 33 blocks.

Shianne Goodwin, 6-3 Soph. C, Furman (5-5)
   - Has appeared in seven games with one start. Is averaging 5.6 ppg and 2.3 rpg.

Te'Shya Heslip, 5-5 Soph. G, Howard (3-6)
   - Has started seven of nine games and leads the Bison in scoring (14.2 ppg), rebounding (4.8 rpg), assists (3.8 apg) and steals (2.8 spg).

Danielle Robinson, 5-10 Fr. G, Morgan State (1-6)
   - Has appeared in all seven games with two starts and is averaging 5.0 ppg.

Grace Dewey, 6-2 Fr. F, Delaware (5-1)
 -Holds the single-season block record at Potomac with 68 in 11 games; has yet to appear in a Blue Hens game.

Oakton (5)

Elizabeth Manner, 6-1 Fr. F, Stony Brook (6-3)
   - Has appeared in seven games (9.1 minutes per) and is averaging 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Zora Stephenson

Zora Stephenson, 5-10 Jr. G, Elon (2-5)
   - Has started all seven games and leads Elon in scoring (13.3 ppg).

Caroline Coyer, 5-10 Soph. G, Villanova (7-1)
   - Has started four of eight games and is averaging 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. Is also tied for the team high with 35 assists.

Katherine Coyer, 5-11 Soph. G, Villanova (7-1)
   - Has appeared in all eight games with one start and is averaging 5.8 points.

Danielle Davis, 5-8 Soph. G, New Orleans (0-7)
   - Central Connecticut State transfer has started all seven games and averages 6.3 ppg (which, unfortunately, is the second-highest figure for the winless Privateers) and has a team-leading 11 steals.

Stonewall Jackson (4)

Joy Caracciolo

Kyani White, 5-6 Jr. G, East Carolina (7-0)
   - Appeared in three games and averaged 5.7 ppg. Is currently suspended indefinitely due to a violation of university policy.

Joy Caracciolo, 6-1 Soph. F, Delaware (6-1)
   - Has appeared in all seven games with two starts. Is averaging 8.3 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Ryan Jordan, 6-0 Soph. G/F, Hampton (7-3)
   - Started five of 10 games (22.6 minutes per) and averages 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Amanda Hinton, 5-7 Fr. G, Bryant (3-6)
   - Has yet to appear in a game this season.

Osbourn Park (4)

Alexis Carter, 5-8 Soph. G, Hofstra (4-4)
   - Has started all eight games and averages 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds.

Destiny Shearin, 5-11 Jr. G, Towson (4-5)
   - Is on the team but will not play this season. From the Towson website: "Junior Destiny Shearin returns to the Tigers this season but in a player-coach role. The medical injury that cost Shearin the final 19 games last season will also keep her sidelined this season."

Kelly Hamner, 5-9 Sr. G, Holy Cross (6-1)
   - Appeared in six games (14.8 minutes per) and averages 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds. Sister of former JMU star Courtney Hamner.

Rachel Gordon, 6-0 Sr. F, Norfolk State (3-5)
   - A three-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Week selection and the Division I rebounding leader at 14.6 rpg.

Hampton (4)

Alyssa Bennett, 6-2 Sr. G/F, Hampton (7-3)
   - All-world defender proving she knows a bit about gettin' buckets, too, as she checks in with a team-leading 17.8 points through 10 games.

Quineshia Leonard, 6-1 Jr. C, Norfolk State (3-5)
   - Has started seven of eight games and is averaging 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Debbie Smith, 5-10 Jr. G, North Carolina A&T (6-1)
   - Ex-JMU Duke has appeared in seven games with one start. Averaging 5.1 points and 4.1 assists.

Qua Brown, 6-1 Fr. F, Campbell (5-2)
   - Appeared in three games; 12 minutes total.

Stafford (3)

Merritt Hempe

Marquel Davis, 5-9 Sr. G, Pittsburgh (5-4)
   - Appeared in five games (11.4 minutes per) and is averaging 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 points.

Merritt Hempe, 6-2 Soph. F, Georgia (8-0)
   - Started seven of eight games and is averaging 6.0 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Taysia Gray, 5-8 Soph. G, Weber State (4-4)
   - Had six points and eight rebounds in Weber State's first game but has not played since. By the way, Gray was born in Utah, where Weber State is located, and still has family that resides there.

Highland Springs (3)

Kermisha Clark, 5-7 Fr. G, Radford (2-6)
   - Has appeared in six games with three starts and is averaging 7.7 ppg. Is also shooting 50 percent from 3-point range (7-of-14).

De'June Robinson, 5-5 Fr. G, Radford (2-6)
   - Has appeared in seven games. Is averaging 2.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per.

Kyra Coleman, 5-10 Sr. F, Coppin State (4-4)
   - Has started all eight games (33.6 minutes per) and averages a team-leading 16.1 ppg.

Thomas Dale (3)

Alyssa Frye, 5-8 Sr. G, Charleston (4-3)
   - Started all seven games and averages a team-leading 14.1 ppg.

Ka'lia Johnson, 5-10 Jr. G/F, Duke (10-0)
   - Appeared in two games; 12 minutes total.

Shawnee Sweeney, 5-7 Jr. G, Maryland-Eastern Shore (3-5)
   - Started seven of eight games and ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.9 ppg.

Woodside (3)

Alecia Bell, 6-0 Soph. G, Delaware (6-1)
   - Has appeared in six of the seven games with two starts. Averaging 1.3 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per.

Adrienne Motley, 5-9 Fr. G, Miami (5-3)
   - Has started all eight games, is averaging 5.8 ppg and has a team-leading 20 assists.

Aianna Kelly, 5-8 Fr. G, Presbyterian (1-7)
   - Has started four of eight games (21.3 minutes per) and averages 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Paul VI (3)

Kasey Curtis, 6-2 Fr. F, William and Mary (1-6)
   - Appeared in all seven games with two starts. Ranks fifth on the team in steals (7).

Marlena Tremba, 5-9 Fr. G, William and Mary (1-6)
   - Appeared in all seven games with 2 starts. Second on the team in scoring (12.9 ppg) and tops in assists (3.0) and 3-pointers per game (2.0).

Blair Koniszewski, 5-11 Soph. F, Sacred Heart (2-6)
   - Has not played this season due to injury.

Miller School (3)

Kelsey Corcoran, 6-2 Jr. F/C, Georgia Southern (2-7)
   - Has appeared in just two games, nine minutes total, but has made both of her field goal attempts, grabbed three rebounds and recorded a steal in her brief stints. Hey, coach, how 'bout giving Kelsey a little more run?

Ashleigh Claybrooks, 6-0 Soph. F, Maryland-Eastern Shore (3-5)
   - Started three of eight games (18.8 minutes per) and is averaging 7.9 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Whitney Martin, 5-9 Fr. G, North Carolina A&T (6-1)
   - Appeared in two games; 11 minutes total.

W.T. Woodson (2)

Melissa Gallo, 5-10 Sr. G, Boston University (3-7)
   - Has appeared in seven games and is averaging 3.9 ppg.

Keara Finnerty, 5-9 Fr. G, Stetson (5-4)
   - Has yet to appear in a game.

Fairfax (2)

Liz McNaughton, 6-0 Soph. G/F, UMBC (1-8)
   - Has started seven of nine games and is averaging 4.7 ppg.

Lauren Burford, 6-0 Jr. F, Villanova (7-1)
   - Has started all eight games and is second on the team in scoring at 10.8 ppg.

Liz Wood

Liberty (2)

Liz Wood, 5-10 Soph. F, Maine (5-4)
   - A notorious statsheet stuffer in high school, Wood has started all nine games and is averaging 12.1 points while leading the team in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg). In other words, she's doing it again.

Jazmon Gwathmey, 6-2 Soph. G, JMU (6-2)
   - Has started seven of eight games and is averaging 7.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Is also shooting 90.5 percent (19 of 21) from the free throw line. By the way, JMU players rank 1-2-3 in the CAA in free throw percentage: 1. Gwathmey; 2. Toia Giggetts 90.0 percent; 3. Kirby Burkholder 88.1 percent.

Forest Park (2)

Danni Jackson, 5-3 Sr. G, George Washington (5-4)
   - Has started all nine games and is averaging 10.1 points and a team-high 4.4 assists.

Breyana Mason, 5-8 Fr. G, Virginia (3-5)
   - Has appeared in seven of eight games (15.4 minutes per) and is averaging 3.7 ppg.

Norfolk Christian (2)

Lefty (Danielle) Webster, 5-8 Fr. G, Charlotte (4-5)
   - Appeared in all nine games - 14.4 minutes per - and is averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 rpg. By the way, how come no one ever goes by the nickname "Righty?"

Latrice Hunter, 5-5 Fr. G, William and Mary (1-6)
   - Appeared in all seven games. Averaging 3.6 ppg. Has attempted just 14 shots but has made nine of them for a robust 64.3 field goal percentage. (Memo to Latrice - take more shots!).

Western Branch (2)

Da'Lishia Griffin, 6-2 Fr. F, JMU (6-2)
   - Has appeared in three games (5.7 minutes per) and has made the only shot she's attempted.

 Shanese Harris, 5-9 Fr. G, UNC Greensboro (4-4)
   - Has started six of eight games and is averaging 5.3 ppg.

Turner Ashby (2)

Kirby Burkholder, 6-0 Sr. G, JMU (6-2)
   - Two-time All-CAA selection and the conference's preseason player of the year leads the Dukes in scoring (18.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg). Question for Dukes coach Kenny Brooks - have you ever had a player improve as dramatically in each year of her four-year cycle as this young lady? Has anyone?

Nikki Newman, 6-2 Sr. F, JMU (6-2)
   - Former CAA Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 4.9 points (with a team-best 53.6 field goal percentage) and 4.4 rebounds.

Cape Henry (2)

Alexis Smith, 5-8 Fr. G, Binghamton (1-8)
   - Has yet to appear in a game.

Ashanti Kennedy, 5-8 Fr. F, Navy (7-3)
   - Has appeared in three games, 19 minutes total, during which she's made two of her three field goal attempts and five of eight free throws.

Cosby (3)

Kelsey Conyers, 5-9 Jr. G, Virginia Tech (7-2)
   - Has appeared in three games, 12 minutes total, made one 3-pointer and grabbed a pair of rebounds.

Adriane Vaughan, 5-8 Fr. G, East Tennessee State (2-5)
   - Appeared in five games - 5.8  minutes per - and is 2 for 3 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free throw line.

Becca Wann, 5-10 Sr. G, Richmond
   - A soccer All-American and a preseason All-Atlantic 10 pick in basketball, Wann was forced to the sidelines in both sports after sustaining a concussion early in the soccer season.

Millbrook (2)

Courtni Green, 5-7 Soph. G, Delaware (6-1)
   - Has started all seven games, ranks second on the team in scoring (10.4 ppg) and adds 6.1 rebounds.

Sara Mead, 5-7 Soph. G, Columbia (1-9)
   - Has started four of 10 games and is averaging 2.7 points and 3.6 rebounds.

Flint Hill (2)

Alexandra Long, 5-10 Soph. G, Davidson (5-6)
   - Started six of 11 games and is averaging 2.8 ppg and 2.0 rpg.

Audrey Dotson, 6-1 Jr. F, Bucknell (4-5)
   - Has started all nine games and leads the team with 17.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg.

Appomattox Regional Governor's School (2)

Paris Brower, 5-10 Fr. F, Radford (2-6)
   - Has appeared in six games. Is averaging 2.2 rebounds and has made three of her six shots.

Roslyn Presley, 5-11 Sr. F, Campbell (5-2)
   - Started all seven games and ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.1 ppg.

Mount Vernon (2)

Kelly Loftus, 5-10 Fr. G, Hofstra (4-4)
   - Appeared in seven games (13.7 minutes per) and averages 3.6 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Tracy King, 5-10 Sr. F, North Carolina A&T (6-1)
   - Has started all seven games and shares the team lead in points (with VCU transfer Christina Carter) at 13.7 ppg. Also leads the team with 5.9 rpg and 25 steals.

Edison (2)

Ruth Sherrill, 6-0 Soph. F, Hofstra (4-4)
   - Has started seven of eight games (15.3 minutes per) and averages 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds.

Myisha Goodwin-Coleman, 5-4 Sr. G, N.C. State (10-1)
   - Has started all 11 games and is averaging 8.3 ppg and shooting 39.7 percent from 3-point range (27 of 68).

Westfield (2)

Siobhan Beslow, 5-11 Soph. F, La Salle (3-4)
   - Started all seven games and is averaging 6.7 points and 6.9 rebounds.

Shelby Romine, 5-9 Sr. G, Bucknell (4-5)
   - Has started all nine games and is averaging 13.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg.

Patrick Henry (2)

Sarah Williams, 5-5 Jr. G, Texas Southern (4-3)
   - Has started all seven games and is averaging 6.4 points and a team-best 4.4 assists.

Miranda Smith, 5-9 Jr. G/F, Georgia State (4-6)
   - Started five of 10 games - 15.3 minutes per - and is averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds.

T.C. Williams (2)

Jasmine Norman, 5-7 Jr. G, Savannah State (3-5)
   - Has started five of eight games and is averaging 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Gaby Moss, 5-8 Soph. G, Georgia State (4-6)
   - Has started eight of 10 games - 21.1 minutes per - and is averaging 7.8 ppg.

Woodrow Wilson (2)

Monnazjea Finney-Smith, 6-1 Fr. G, VCU (7-1)
   - Has appeared in eight games, starting once, and is averaging 5.1 ppg.

Khalilah Ali, 6-0 Soph. G/F, Longwood (3-4)
   - Has started all seven games and is averaging 8.4 points and a team-leading 6.9 rebounds.

West Springfield (2)

Logan Battle, 6-2 Soph. G/F, Georgetown (6-3)
   - Has yet to appear in a game. Battle suffered a season-ending knee injury last January.

April Robinson, 5-8 Soph. G, Duquesne (7-3)
   - Has started all 10 games and is averaging 10.9 points and a team-leading 4.7 assists.

L.C. Bird (2)

Victoya Ricks, 6-1 Sr. F, Grambling (2-5)
   - Has started all six games, leads the team in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and ranks second in scoring (10.8 ppg).

Kelsey Cruz, 5-7 Soph. G, Fairleigh Dickinson (1-7)
   - Has appeared in six games with three starts. Ranks second on the team in scoring (12.3 ppg) and is 13-for-13 from the free throw line.

Monacan (2)

Candice Silas, 6-0 Jr. F, Elon (2-5)
   - Has yet to appear in a game. Is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

Raven Williams, 5-8 Soph. G, Longwood (3-4)
   - Began the season like gangbusters, averaging 14.0 points through three games, before being sidelined by a foot injury. Is expected back by the end of this month.

Abington

Samantha Mitchell, 5-7 Sr. G, JMU (6-2)
   - Has yet to appear in a game.

Atlee

Sydney Henderson, 5-6 Sr. G, Mount St. Mary's (3-6)
   - Has started all nine games and is averaging a team-leading 18.1 ppg.

Brookville

Talisha Watts, 6-2 Jr. F, George Mason (5-5)
   - Has started all 10 games and is averaging 8.2 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Caroline

Shannon Mosby, 5-3 Fr. G, Longwood (3-4)
   - Has yet to appear in a game.

Centreville

Erin Meador, 5-10 Jr. G, Navy (7-3)
   - Appeared in all 10 games - 10.8 minutes per - and is averaging 1.9 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Churchland

Ronesia Spicer, 6-0 Fr. F, Norfolk State (3-5)
   - Has appeared in two games for a total of five minutes.

Clover Hill

Ryen Henry, 6-1 Sr. F, VCU (7-1)
   - Has appeared in eight games, starting once, and is averaging 3.3 rebounds.

Colonial Forge

Tanaysa Henderson, 5-9 Soph. F, Coppin State (4-4)
   - Has appeared in all eight games (8.3 minutes per) and averages 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds.

Colonial Heights

Tracy Akers, 5-6 Soph. G, Richmond (4-5)
   - Has yet to appear in a game this season.

Episcopal

Breanna Jones, 6-0 Sr. F, Seton Hall (7-2)
   - Hampton University transfer has appeared in nine games with three starts in her third season with the Pirates. This season she's averaging 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 points.

Fort Chiswell

Nancy Thacker, 5-9 Jr. G, Western Carolina (5-3)
   - Has yet to appear in a game due to injury.

Freedom

Kelsey Buchanan, 6-3 Sr. C, Delaware (6-1)
   - Has started all seven games and leads the Blue Hens (6-1) in scoring (16.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg).

Gar-Field

Kelly Hartwell, 5-10 Sr. F, Robert Morris (3-4)
   - Has appeared in all seven games with two starts. Is averaging 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.

George Mason

Stephanie Cheney, 6-0 Fr. F, Penn (4-2)
   - Has made the most of her 18 minutes played over five games by grabbing 10 rebounds and scoring seven points.

Grassfield

Nola Anderson, 5-9 Fr. G, Oakland (2-6)
   - Has appeared in all eight games with three starts. Is averaging 3.1 points and 3.0 rebounds.

Greensville County

Gabby Tyler, 6-2 Jr. F, Charlotte (4-5)
   - Has started all six game in which she's appeared and averaged 8.2 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Hayfield

Shannen Cochraham, 6-3 Jr. C, Elon (2-5)
   - Has appeared in six games with one start and is averaging 8.2 ppg.

Henrico

Bria Harris, 5-11 Jr. F, Coppin State (4-4)
   - Has started all eight games and is averaging 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Hermitage

Kiana Brown, 5-7 Fr. G, Fairleigh Dickinson (1-7)
   - Has appeared in six games with one start. Is averaging 3.0 points in 10.7 minutes per game.

Herndon 

Deborah Headen, 5-9 Soph. G, Longwood (3-4)
   - Has appeared in five games with three starts. Is averaging 5.0 ppg and has 12 assists against just four turnovers.

Hidden Valley

Abby Redick, 6-1 Sr. G/F, Drexel (2-5)
   - Fifth-year senior, Virginia Tech transfer and sister of NBA sharpshooter J.J. Redick has appeared in all seven games with five starts for the reigning WNIT champs. Is averaging 4.9 ppg and has dished out 20 assists.

Huguenot

Daiesha Brown, 5-3 Soph. G, Longwood (3-4)
   - Has started all seven games - at 32.1 minutes per - and is averaging 18.0 points on 45.8 percent shooting, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals.

Indian River

Chelisa Painter, 6-1 Jr. F, Old Dominion (5-4)
   - George Washington transfer has started all nine games for the Lady Monarchs and is averaging 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds.

James Madison

Megan LeDuc, 5-6 Fr. G, Cornell (5-4)
   - Has appeared in all nine games - 12.4 minutes per contest - and is averaging 3.2 ppg.

James Monroe

Keyontae Williams, 5-9 So. G/F, Albany (8-0)
   - Has appeared in six games - 8.7 minutes per contest - and has scored 11 points and hauled down seven rebounds.

Lake Braddock

Natalie Butler, 6-5 Fr. C, Georgetown (6-3)
   - Has started all nine games and leads the Hoyas in scoring (15.8 ppg, on 50 percent shooting) and rebounding (12.1 rpg).

Lancaster

Andrea White, 6-0 Sr. F, Georgetown (6-3)
   - Has started all nine games and ranks second on the Hoyas in scoring (14.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.4). Scored a career-high 28 points and added 12 rebounds in Tuesday's 66-65 victory over Yale.

Langley

Kristen Kody, 5-10 Sr. G, Penn (4-2)
   - Has not appeared in a game as she suffered a torn ACL in the team's final preseason scrimmage.

Liberty Christian

Raven Jefferson, 5-8 Fr. G, USC-Upstate (4-5)
   - Has started seven of nine games and is averaging 4.0 ppg.

Loudon County

Casey Cummings, 6-1 Soph. F, St. Francis N.Y. (7-2)
   - Has appeared in one game for three minutes. Had two rebounds, though.

Midlothian

Rachel Matthews, 6-1 Sr. F, Mount St. Mary's (3-6)
   - Has started six of eight games at 12.9 minutes per contest. Averaging 3.9 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Nandua

Breonna Evans, 5-7 Sr. G, Maryland-Eastern Shore (3-5)
   - Has appeared in five games, 31 minutes total. Has five points and seven rebounds.

Nansemond River

Janel Cannon, 5-8 Soph. G, Norfolk State (3-5)
   - Has appeared in five games for a total of 21 minutes.

Nelson County

Emily Stotmeister, 5-10 Fr. G/F, Liberty (4-5)
   - Has yet to appear in a game.

Norfolk Collegiate

Markell Smith, 6-1 Jr. G, Towson (4-5)
   - Has started seven of eight games and is averaging 5.3 points and 5.1 rebounds.

North Stafford

Chelsea Terry, 5-10 Soph. G, Navy (7-3)
   - Has appeared in eight games - 8.6 minutes per - and is averaging 1.3 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Osbourn

Mikal Johnson, 5-8 Soph. G, Rider (2-5)
   - Has started three of seven games (25.9 minutes per contest) and is averaging 8.9 ppg.

Phoebus

Nicole Hamilton, 5-8 Sr. G, Hampton (7-3)
   - All-MEAC guard averages 13.2 points, 5.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.4 blocks - and 36.4 minutes per game.

Maryah Sydnor

Radford

Maryah Sydnor, 6-1 Jr. F, Appalachian State (1-7)
   - The Delle Donne of the SoCon, Sydnor has started all eight games (35.1 minutes per) and leads team with 22.0 ppg and 9.0 rpg while shooting 47.9 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from 3-point range and 81.9 percent from the free throw line.

Riverbend

Ashley Lambert, 5-11 Jr. G, Marshall (3-4)
   - Sitting out this season after transferring from UMBC. Averaged 6.7 points in 28 games (10 starts) at UMBC last season.

Robert E. Lee (Staunton)

Angela Mickens, 5-7 Soph. G, JMU (6-2)
   - Has appeared in all eight games with one start and is averaging 4.6 points while handing out a team-high 33 assists.

(Robert E. Lee) Springfield

Kristine Mial, 5-10 Sr. G/F, East Carolina (7-0)
   - Has appeared in six games (17.8 minutes per) and is averaging 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Robinson

Christie Michals, 6-1 Soph. F, Hartford (2-8)
   - Has appeared in six of 10 games, averaging 6.7 minutes per contest.

Salem (near Roanoke)

Ataijah Taylor, 5-9 Fr. G, Wake Forest (5-4)

Salem (Virginia Beach)

Shaleise Boyd, 6-3 Fr. F/C, Hampton (7-3)
   - Has appeared in four games (5.3 minutes per) and averages 1.3 points and 1.8 rebounds.

Spotswood

Bailey Williams, 5-7 Fr. G, UNC Greensboro (4-4)
   - Has started all eight games (28.9 minutes per), is averaging 6.1 ppg and has dished out a team-high 28 assists.

Spotsylvania

Bria Carter, 6-0 Fr. G, Appalachian State (1-7)
   - Has started four of six games (12.8 minutes per) and averages 2.3 ppg.

Staunton River

Jodi Salyer, 5-10 Fr. G, Delaware (6-1)
   - Has appeared in all seven games and averages 14.3 minutes per contest. Ranks third on the team in assists (11) and has six steals.

St. Anne's-Belfield

Sarah Imovbioh, 6-2 Jr. F, Virginia (3-5)
   - Has started all eight games and is averaging 11.6 points and 8.3 rebounds, more than three rebounds greater than any other Cavalier.

St. John's College High 

Jade Clark, 6-0 Soph. F, Delaware (6-1)
  -Averages 3.3 ppg and 1.7 rpg; has started one game for the Blue Hens this season.

Surry County

RaeChaun Edwards, 5-4 Soph. G, Campbell (5-2)
   - Started six of seven games and is averaging 9.3 ppg. Dropped a career-high 20 points on UNC Asheville during a 67-59 victory Wednesday.

Tallwood

Latrice Phelps, 6-0 Jr. F, High Point (5-3)
   - Has started all eight games (26.1 minutes per contest) and averages 7.1 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Thomas Jefferson Science Tech

Shannon Eriksson, 5-7 Jr. G, Davidson (5-6)
   -  Started five of 11 games and is averaging 3.1 ppg.

Trinity Episcopal

Jillian Brown, 5-6 Sr. G, Charleston (4-3)
   - Started all seven games - at 37.7 minutes per - and averages a Colonial Athletic Association-leading 6.7 assists per game.

Virginia

Savannah Pippin, 6-1 Jr. F, Coastal Carolina (5-3)
   - Has appeared in six games (10.2 minutes per) and averages 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 points.

Virginia Episcopal School

Jessica Watkins, 6-0 Sr. F, Grambling (2-5)
   - Has appeared in all six games with one start (19.2 minutes per) and is averaging 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Wakefield

Emily Granruth, 5-11 Fr. G, Niagara (2-5)
   - Has appeared in two games for a total of six minutes (Six minutes Dougie Fresh you're on!). 

Warwick

LaQuanda Younger, 5-10 Soph. G, Old Dominion (5-4)
   - "Q" has appeared in all nine games and got her first start Saturday against Maryland-Eastern Shore. Is averaging 4.0 ppg.

West Point

Kiera Gaines, 5-11 Jr. G, Campbell (5-2)
   - Has started all seven games; leads Campbell in scoring (13.1 ppg) and rebounding (8.4 rpg).

William Fleming

Ti'Asia McGeorge, 5-4 Sr. G, American (6-2)
   - Has appeared in all eight games (15.4 minutes per). Is averaging 5.0 points and has made 12 3-pointers.

JMU, Va. Tech remain atop state rankings

Toia Giggetts and JMU remain No. 1

Who's ranked where? Don't ask us. Oh, right, we're telling you. After No. 1, which were pretty confident in, ranking the state's teams is no easy task. But we gave it our best shot.

1. James Madison (6-2)

Man, we wish these Dukes hadn't lost a pair over Thanksgiving. Then again, when you consider JMU's two conquerors, Mississippi State and Wright State, have a combined record of 16-4, it's not as though the Dukes lost to some chumps. Besides, there's no doubt after wins over UCLA, Liberty and Virginia that JMU is the No. 1 team in the Commonwealth. Kirby Burkholder is averaging 18.4, Toia Giggetts just came off a career high over Pitt (and she's shooting 52 percent from the field) and Nikki Newman has an impressive 44 percent shooting percentage from 3. Even with the two losses, the Dukes are having the kind of preseason that could get them into the NCAA Tournament's at-large bid discussion.

Next game: Prairie View A&M, Dec. 14

2. Virginia Tech (7-2)

Yeah, Richmond beat 'em. (Frankly, the Spiders are a puzzling bunch to rank). And Indiana in Bloomington wasn't pretty. But the win against Michigan State was big, much like the numbers Uju Ugoka has put up in the last six games (137 points). Hannah Young (8.6) and Taijah Campbell are backing her up on the boards, and Monet Tellier and Vanessa Panousis have been generous enough to impress Kris Kringle with 79 assists between them).

Next game: USC Upstate, Dec. 15

3. VCU (7-1)

We admit, this might be too high for the baby Rams, especially considering their schedule hasn't exactly been a who's who of Top-25 teams. Still, most of their success has come on the road. And the Rams aren't just beat teams; they're flat-out embarrassing them. It's not just Robyn Parks in double socring figures, but Isis Thorpe (14.5) It'll be interesting to see if the Rams can keep this up once the competition gets stiffer. But we can't help thinking back to how they were within five at Ohio State with 1:20 to playing and wondering, hey, maybe they really are this good.

Next game: Cleveland State, Dec. 15

4. Hampton (6-3)

Hard to get a feel for these Lady Pirates, sparked by freshman Malia Tate-DeFreitas, a complement to Alyssa Bennett and Nicole Hamilton. The performance at home against American was ghastly, though we take heart that the Eagles followed that up with a win over always-perplexing Drexel. Speaking of the Dragons, Hampton gets its shot to solve Denise Dillon's offense on Dec. 18.

Next game: Bethune-Cookman, Dec. 9


5. Virginia (3-5)

Headed into finals below .500 is troublesome for a Cavs team that has beaten High Point, Louisiana Tech and Liberty (by one). They haven't won since Nov. 19 -- a date with Maryland Eastern Shore on Dec. 17 should fix that -- and a Christmas tournament awaits where they could face an always-dangerous Florida Gulf Coast team if they get past a first-round meeting with Tulane.

Next game: Maryland Eastern Shore, Dec. 17

6. Liberty (4-5)

Can someone help Ashley Rininger out? The sophomore center, shooting .604 from the field, leads the Flames with 15.7 ppg and 10.1 rpg, but she could use a lift from her teammates. The one-point loss to Virginia still stings, but Liberty has to like winning four of its last five after dropping its opening four.

Next game: Anderson (S.C.) exhibition, Dec. 12

7. Richmond

Spiders, what do we do with you? The wins over Miami and Tech -- wow! (We give Richmond the nod over ODU here due to those wins.) But losses at North Carolina A&T and at Liberty make us question. It appears Gen Okoro is rounding into form and freshmen Olivia Healy and Janelle Hubbard are having an impact early. And the good news for Spiders fans is Richmond has won three of its last four.

Next game: College of Charleston, Dec. 14

8. Old Dominion (5-4)

Lady Monarch fans might take issue with our ranking, but while Shae Kelley has exceeded our expectations, it's still awfully hard to know exactly where ODU fits among the state's teams. They lost to Tech and beat Radford; their other wins are over a pair of MEAC low-rung teams, winless UMass Lowell and a Boston University team that is 3-6. Wish they had pulled out the OT win over Marist, but we need some convincing before we push ODU up another few rungs. The Dec. 30 date at VCU should be worthwhile.

Next game: At Pitt, Dec. 15


9. George Mason (5-3)

Three straight losses for these Patriots, who last won by nipping Longwood on Nov. 26. Three road games in six days heading into finals made for a weary Patriot effort against Akron on Saturday. First-year coach Nyla Milleson has to be pleased with her trio at the top: Taylor Brown (Hoyas loss), Janaa Pickard (double-double machine) and Sandra Ngoie (13.3 ppg and 6.1 rpg off the bench).

Next game: Alabama Birmingham, Dec. 21

10. Longwood (3-4)

Couldn't be more impressed by Daeisha Brown, and we know there are a couple (Xavier, George Mason) that the Lancers would love to have back. Losing Raven Williams to a broken foot helps, as she averaged 14  ppg (good news is she's due back in a month). While the loss to High Point on Saturday was a disappointment, we're expecting the Lancers to be no fun to play in the Big South.

Next game: Savannah State, Dec. 15

11. Norfolk State (3-5)

Spartans notched their first MEAC win, taking down Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. As for 14.6, that's how many points leading scorer Rae Corbo averages and how many rebounds NCAA leader Rachel Gordon averages.

Next game: East Carolina, Dec. 17

12. William and Mary (1-6)

Love the win against UMass and love the play of freshmen Marlena Tremba and Latrice Hunter. Credit vets Kyla Kerstetter, Jazmen Boone and Kaitlyn Mathieu for making the transition to first-year coach Ed Swanson. Just like McGuire at Radford, growing pains for Swanson at W&M.

Next game: Radford, Dec. 18

13. Radford (2-6)

Long time since Nov. 12, when the Highlanders last won, but it's all part of the growing pains for first-year coach Mike McGuire. Last six have been on the road -- next five at home.

Next game: Appalachian State, Dec. 16

Shae Kelley doing it all for ODU

Through eight games, Shae Kelley leads Old Dominion in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, minutes played, yards after the catch, goals-against average....

OK, we made a couple of those up. But only a couple.

Remember when this was going to be a season in which Kelley wouldn't be asked to do so much? It's turned out that, so far, the demands on Kelley have never been greater.

Consider that, in addition to leading ODU in the above categories, Kelley also has just one fewer assist than starting point guard G.G. Goodhope and is just five one-hundredths of a percentage point shy off Becca Allison's team lead in field goal percentage. She has more rebounds than any two other Lady Monarchs combined. And her 14 blocked shots are five more than the rest of the entire team combined.

But while this is hardly ideal statistical distribution, for pure entertainment value we have to admit we absolutely love watching Kelley go crazy at both ends like this. She's like the Energizer Bunny with a ponytail (sometimes), a high-motor two-way player with an uncanny knack for being on or around the ball seemingly at all times.

She'll routinely have these 90-second to two-minute chunks in which she's make a shot, steal a pass, dish out an assist, block a shot, score again, grab and rebound and dribble up court... It's like, are there two Shae Kelleys out there?

On Wednesday, for example, the Lady Monarchs eventually blew out UMass-Lowell by 33 points. But ODU didn't separate until early in the second half. And there were stretches during which Kelley was so impactful that we couldn't wondering, if you put Shae on UMass-Lowell and kept everything else the same, would the Lady Monarchs even be winning?

That said, the long-term outlook for Old Dominion is as bright as it was in the preseason. It's just that the added size that should bring the Lady Monarchs so many new dimensions is pretty much still in the over. Freshmen Odegua Oigbokie has shown flashes of excellence in limited minutes, and fellow rookie bigs Ija Ajemba and Destinee Young have barely played at all.

There's nothing alarming about this. Freshmen usually take time to get acclimated to Division I ball, particularly forwards and centers. But with the newcomers seeing minimal time, the Lady Monarchs are essentially fielding last year's team plus transfer Chelisa Painter (and now Michelle Brandao) but minus Jackie Cook, Mairi Buchan and Ashley Betz-White (injured).

No wonder's Kelley's so busy.

The team shouldn't be this shorthanded all season, though. At some point, at least two of the freshmen figure to develop into more regular contributors. Betz-White's return will definitely help, and Painter and Tiffany Minor, who are assuming starter's minutes for the first time in their careers, figure to become more comfortable with the added responsibilities.

If even some of these things happen, the Lady Monarchs should be able to give as good as they get when Conference USA play begins next month. If they all happen, look out.

In the meantime, we're sure Kelley will keep doing what's she's been doing - which is just about everything.

The Lady Monarchs will host Maryland-Eastern Shore Saturday at 7 p.m.

George Mason struggling to finish games

If basketball games last about 38 minutes instead of 40, George Mason might be taking an eight-game winning streak into today's game at Akron.

Instead, the Patriots (5-4) have suffered losses in three of their last four games, largely because of an stunning inability to finish off otherwise winning efforts:

- On Thursday, George Mason led Delaware State by 10 with 1:24 remaining, only to wind up losing by seven (90-83) in overtime.

- On Monday, the Patriots led College of Charleston by 10 with less than four minutes left and were up seven with less than three minutes remaining. Final score: Charleston 66, Mason 64.

- On Nov. 23, the Patriots led Maryland-Eastern Shore by 12 early in the second half and by three with less than 20 seconds left. UMES forced overtime and got a layup at the extra period buzzer for a 93-91 victory.

To be fair, all three opponents have come up with some huge shots down the stretch to reel the Patriots in. But Mason has also had its share of self-inflicted wounds. Against Charleston, for example, the Patriots committed five turnovers inside the last four minutes to assists the Bulldogs in wiping out that 10-point deficit.

Mistakes like this will almost certainly be deadly against Akron, which boasts one of the nation's most explosive offenses (82.3 points per game). The Zips are led by reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Rachel Tecca (27.6 ppg, 2nd in Division I to Baylor's Odyssey Sims' 30.0) and Hanna Luburgh (24.7 ppg, 8th in D-I).

The good news for the Patriots is their late-game issues, while frustrating, are for the most part correctable. So at some point this season, the players may look back on all the late-game struggles they used to have and laugh.

They're just not all that funny now.

VCU: The kids can play (the vets, too)

Isis Thorpe

During a preseason chat with VCU coach Marlene Stollings,  we tried to get her to identify the one or two players out of her boatload of freshmen most likely to make an immediate impact.

"Actually, they're all doing well," Stollings said.

"Oh...uh, OK."

That's what we said. But here's what we thought:

Yeah, right. C'mon, coach. You just don't want to single anyone out. They can't all be ready to go right out of the box.

Then the season started, and in the Rams' very first game Ashlee Mitchell racked up seven assists, Camille Calhoun grabbed 10 rebounds and Monnazjea Finney-Smith scored 18 points.

Oh, so it's those three. She could have just told us that and....

Then Keira Robinson started going off, earning Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Week honors.

OK, Robinson too....

Then Isis Thorpe started going off until she too captured the league's weekly top rookie award.

Hmmm.... Maybe Stollings was giving it to us straight after all.

By the way, during that same conversation, Stollings said she expected senior Robyn Parks to be even better than she was in 2012-13. And we thought, well, that sounds good, but are you really expecting more than 18.7  points and 7.9 rebounds?

Parks is currently averaging 20.3 points and 11.3 rebounds while wearing the A-10 Player of the Week belt for the second straight week.

From now on we're going to stop thinking about what Stollings tells us. Just write it down and move on.

The Rams, who at 6-1 are enjoying their best start in five years, will look to make it six straight victories on Saturday at UMBC.

Ugoka puts Virginia Tech on her back

Virginia Tech wound up losing to Indiana by six points Wednesday, but for a while there it looked as though the Hokies might lose by 26.

Uju Ugoka wasn't going out like that, though. So with Tech down 18 and less than 10 minutes remaining, the senior forward scored her team's next 13 points on an assortment of jumpers, layups and free throws to get the Hokies to within single digits. After a Hannah Young 3-pointer got Tech a little closer, Ugoka got another layup. Then another Young 3-pointer, and yet another Ugoka bucket.

That gave her 17 of Tech's 23 points in the furious run that got the Hokies to within three inside the two-minute mark. The Hoosiers wound up hanging on, but that was one heck of a Uju Show (with special guest appearances by Young).

Ugoka finished with a career-high 32 points, 26 in the second half, and 11 rebounds in the latest of a series of outstanding individual efforts. On Nov. 11 at Old Dominion, foul trouble limited Ugoka to just 10 minutes and two points in a 73-61 victory. In the six games since, she's averaged 22.5 points and 11.6 rebounds and posted five double-doubles.

Ironically, monster numbers from Ugoka may actually be a bad sign for Tech. On Nov. 27, the senior star put racked up 27 points and 17 boards against Richmond in a game the Hokies lost by eight. Clearly this team operates best when multiple players get theirs instead of Ugoka having to be the whole freakin' show.

On Wednesday, it didn't help that Indiana countered Ugoka's effort with a electric solo performance of its own. First-year guard Larryn Brooks went off for a Hoosiers freshman-record 37 points and made all 11 of her free throws, including six in the final 36 seconds to seal off Tech's comeback bid.

And according to Hooisers coach Curt Miller, offense wasn't even Brooks' biggest contribution.

"We believe the key to Virginia Tech is their freshman Australian point guard (Vanessa Panousis)," Miller told the Indiana Daily Student newspaper. "And Larryn shut her out, and played 40 minutes tonight. So you can write all you want about her offense, but what she did to win the game was at the defensive end."

Panousis, who began played second among Hokies in scoring at 12.9 ppg, was 0 of 8 from the field against the Hoosiers and didn't attempt a free throw in 32 minutes.

Fortunately for the Hokies (6-2), they have a great opportunity to end the week on a high Saturday at 2 p.m. when No. 25 Michigan State (5-3) visits Cassell Coliseum. A year ago, the Tech offense was at its most feeble - and given Tech's offensive struggles in 2012-13, that's really saying something - in a 57-29 loss to the Spartans in East Lansing, Mich.

Fortunately for Tech fans, this team ain't that team.

By the way, do yourself a favor and click on the Indiana Daily Student link a few paragraphs back. The picture of Brooks driving on Ugoka is flat-out awesome. 

Kids to bring the noise at ODU matinee

It's probably Old Dominion's most unique women's basketball event of the season.

It'll certainly be the loudest. But that ringing in your ears is what you get when you invite 6,200 or so Norfolk elementary school students to the Constant Center to see the Lady Monarchs take on UMass-Lowell Wednesday at 11 a.m. for ODU's third annual Education Day promotion.

As a sporting event, the game may not be all that. UMass-Lowell is 0-7 in its first year as a Division I program and operates at the kind of uptempo pace that figures to play into the Lady Monarchs' strengths. The elements are in place for Old Dominion to win handily, and to look good doing so.

But as a spectacle, the event should be nothing short of electric from the time these kids file into the arena. Last year, the Lady Monarchs said they could feel the energy and hear the excitement from their locker room before they'd even come out for warm-ups. And that was with "only" 2,800 elementary school kids buzzing throughout the building.

Now, a lot of these kids won't know much about basketball. Some won't like sports at all. But of course, kids are always excited to get out of school early. More importantly, they think what's going on in front of them is a big deal. So they roar their approval at whatever unfolds.

Frankly, the familiar "Ice Cream and Cake" segment during a late-game timeout appears to have lost some of its sizzle among ODU fans. That won't be a problem Wednesday. These kids will go bananas when that song hits.

Fact is, they'll go crazy for everything. When they see themselves on the big screen. When public address announcer Jack Ankerson does the roll call of schools:

"Is Larchmont Elementary School in the house?"

"YEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

And of course, when Old Dominion scores. But they'll also get a kick out of seeing UMass-Lowell score. After last year's game, N.C. Central's players said they too were energized by the elementary schoolers and felt as though they had their support as well. (This dual affection is a big reason why you don't want to schedule too aggressively when planning out one of these things. The three opponents on Maryland-Eastern Shore, N.C. Central and UMass-Lowell had a combined record of 14-53 in the seasons in which they appeared. And UMES actually won the game in 2011.)

But my favorite part of last year's affair - and the one which may have had the most lasting impact - was after the final buzzer when the Lady Monarchs went into the stands and traded high-fives with the kids. The youngsters were so excited you would have thought Justin Bieber was in the house (is he still popular?).

We've seen firsthand what even a brief interaction with a player can mean to a child. Several years ago, when apple-of-my-eye Jasmine White was an elementary schooler, she got an autograph from an Old Dominion player named Okeisha Howard. Now, Howard was a fine player, an all-conference guard on some really good Lady Monarchs teams. But you would have thought Jasmine had met Dwight Howard by the way she reacted to the encounter. Even a couple of years later, if you asked Jasmine who the best basketball player in the world was, her answer wouldn't have been Candace Parker or Diana Taurasi or even LeBron James. It would have been Okeisha Howard. To Jasmine, that personal connection made all the difference in the world.

On Wednesday, these Lady Monarchs may have a similar effect on some young girls - and boys - because to the kids, the players will seem like rock stars. And in the process, perhaps a few new women's basketball fans will be born.

Look, football and men's basketball teams don't do this type of thing - not to this extent, anyway - because for the most part, they don't have to. But in women's basketball, any outside-the-box idea that transforms an otherwise routine game into an event seems like just the ticket.

Maybe some of Wednesday's youngsters will want to come back for more, and maybe they won't.
But at the very least, the majority of these kids will leave the Constant Center feeling as though on this one day, they were part of something special. And that's a pretty cool takeaway from any sporting event.

So if you're in the Norfolk area Wednesday morning and want to see what all the fuss is about, stop by the Constant Center.

Just don't forget the earplugs.

Meet Radford's Jordynn Gaymon -- arts student, post player and brand new mom

At first she thought she drank too much Gatorade.

But the second plus sign on the stick convinced Jordynn Gaymon. She was pregnant.

It was Feb. 18, 2013.

"I was terrified," admits the 20-year-old Radford junior, a 6-1 forward from Indian Trail, N.C. "I thought my mom was going to kill me. I thought my grandparents would kill me."

She wasn't sure what to say to the father, Kion Brown, a 6-8 sophomore center for the Highlanders. But she found the words after his game.




















"The first thing he did was tell me everything was going to be OK,  and he gave me a hug," she says.

Michael Julian Gaymon Brown was born Sept. 23, weighing in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces and 22 inches. Jordynn lists "Proud motha!" on her Twitter account  -- "It's the toughest job but the most rewarding," she says -- and has worked to remain devout to her other passion, basketball. Two weeks after giving birth, she was conditioning for the Highlanders season. Even the coaches didn't expect her back until January.

Gaymon hasn't missed a game, averaging 5.8 points and 6.3 rebounds for a Highlander team that is under new management. Coach Mike McGuire is in his first season.

Gaymon is grateful for the support of McGuire and the assistants, and she remains close to former coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba, too. Ngongba, now an assistant at George Mason, realized Gaymon was pregnant before the words were spoken out loud.

"I was always a picky eater, no junk," Gaymon says. "One morning I had six biscuits and two plates of sausage and eggs. She looked at me like, 'You OK?' "

A few days later, Gaymon went bowling with Ngongba and her kids. "Are you pregnant?" Ngongba asked.

Gaymon sat out the Big South tournament but still played pickup into her seventh month. Her mother became her rock. There was no room for anger, just support.

"If it wasn't for my mom, I would not have gotten through this," she says. "She has not wavered from being by my side."

 She feared the labor, especially after she and Kion reviewed birth videos in preparation for the big day.

The epidural didn't stop her pain, but all of it went away when she saw "that little alien baby on my chest."

"I want him to have everything I never had," Gaymon says. "I want him to have everything I've had and thought of having. I want him to reach his potential in everything. His dad didn't have a lot. I want him to know people can struggle. I want that to make him appreciative of what he has."

MJ, who has already outgrown his first pair of Jordans, is a smart kid already, she says, grabbing for the bottle, able to retrieve his own fallen pacifier and gleeful at the sound of that basketball buzzer. She already projects him a center as he reaches from Kion's chest to knees. Kion loves LeBron, for the record, but Jordynn fashions him more a player like Kenneth Faried or Kevin Garnett.

"He was watching the Denver Nuggets the other night. …" Gaymon says.

His nursery is a basketball them, and his books. "Basketball," Gaymon says. "Plus 'Goodnight Moon.' "
She always knew she would play basketball again, and the plan was to do so quickly. "I told myself my dream was to play college basketball. When Kion told me everything was going to be OK, that he was going to be there for me, I knew I was going to be able to come back and play."

The dream to play in college started when Gaymon was young. Her mom saw her talent and made sure her daughter got the necessary exposure. "I played for a team that was based in Georgia for a while," Gaymon says.

Receiving a letter from North Carolina was a thrill. Gaymon favored Texas-El Paso for a while, then Tennessee State but settled on Radford -- "quiet and family based," she says.

MJ with Dad.

"The coaches are a good support system," she says. "They understand I am a mother and I have a child. They try to help me as best they can."

She played in 21 games as a true freshman, then shot over 50 percent from the field and led the Highlanders in blocks despite averaging less than 15 minutes a game as a sophomore in 2012-13.

This season figured to be more of a struggle, with  Gaymon weathering all the changes her body has endured due to the pregnancy. She had trouble finding her wind after sprints, and worked at building up her muscle, particularly in her back, still healing from the trying delivery.

Yet in just her second game, Gaymon racked up 10 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. And in her fifth game, on Nov. 22 at Wake Forest, Gaymon tied her career high with 16 points.

"It feels how it's supposed to feel," she says. "I feel like I'm getting back into the groove. It feels great, especially when I help my team out by making an impact."

Gaymon credits the extra conditioning

Her mom helps with MJ, keeping him during road trips at her home in North Carolina. Gaymon connects with him via FaceTime every chance she gets -- 2 a.m. included -- but this stretch -- leaving Radford without a home game from Nov. 15 until Dec. 16 -- is particularly challenging.

"The hardest part is missing any part of his growing up," she says. "He started to make baby noises, and my mom was the first person to hear it. I missed it."

Gaymon remains on track to graduate on time. She was once a biology major, planning for a career as a physician's assistant. She changed that to focus on something she has always been good at: art. "I want to be an artist for a graphic design company," says Gaymon, who prefers water colors and acrylics and hopes to design logos one day. She hasn't ruled out playing overseas.

Her primary focus remains her little boy. "I have a little family," she says. "And I love it."

Nobody better on the boards than NSU's Gordon

Nobody rebounds any better than Rachel Gordon in Division I.

The Norfolk State senior is the top rebounder in the nation with 15 boards per game through games played through Sunday.

The 6-1 forward snagged a gaudy 26 rebounds (a career high) on Nov. 29 against Texas-Pan American. She's also this week's MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, having pulled down 40 rebounds in two games to go with five blocks and four steals.

But try as we might, we couldn't get the NSU player to brag on herself.

"There is always room for improvement, and my rebounding is a team effort. We all work hard to box out our competitors," she says.

Even when we asked if it must feel pretty good to see your name before all others in the latest NCAA stats, Gordon remained humble.

Says Gordon: "I was unaware of it until my mom told me tonight, but there is always room for improvement."

NSU, by the way, is second to Hampton in the MEAC in rebounding margin.